Recent research has determined flow cytometry and clonality evaluation as a reliable method for characterizing feline lymphomas. Lymphoma is one of the most prevalent cancers in cats, with almost 30% of all feline cancers being lymphoma cases.

 Moreover, the size of neoplastic cells is a key factor in determining prognosis, with survival time being dependent on cell size, the study found.

 This new cell-sizing method will help provide prognostic insights and affect treatment decisions, according to a news release.

Flow cytometry is a technique used for rapidly analyzing multiple parameters of single cells suspended in a solution. It uses lasers to generate scattered and fluorescent light signals, which are read by detectors such as photodiodes or photomultiplier tubes. These light signals are then converted into electronic signals, analyzed by a computer, and written to a standardized data file format (.fcs). Cell populations can be analyzed and/or purified based on their light scattering and fluorescent properties, according to literature on flow cytometry.

 Flow cytometry is commonly used to identify and characterize lymphomas in dogs and humans. Yet, its use in cats has scarcely been explored.

For the study, researchers explored the usefulness of flow cytometry and clonality analysis via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR) for characterizing feline lymphoma and predicting prognosis. They analyzed fine needle aspirates and/or blood samples from 438 feline patients using flow cytometry and PARR, and compared a subset of results from patients with confirmed B- or T-cell lymphomas to cytological or histological evaluations. The most optimal set of flow cytometry parameters, principally forward scatter thresholds, were identified to improve cell size categorization.

The flow cytometry and clonality evaluation method proved to be 82% concordant with the gold standard of cytology. Specifically, this method exhibited 82% concordance with cytological measurements in a training set and 90% concordance in an independent test set.

Further research involving more patients revealed notable differences in survival rates. Cats with small-cell lymphomas had the longest survival, with a median of 312 days. Meanwhile, those with medium-cell lymphomas had a median survival time of 189 days. Cats with large-cell lymphomas had the shortest survival of a median of 81 days. The lymphoma subtypes identified through flow cytometry and PARR showed significant variations in survival, highlighting the method’s potential for prognostic assessment.

“The proposed methodology achieves high concordance with cytological evaluations and provides an additional tool for the characterization and management of feline lymphoproliferative diseases,” the authors wrote.

The study was conducted by ImpriMed, a precision medicine startup that uses artificial intelligence (AI) in cancer treatments. The company announced an upcoming study on AI-powered prognostication for feline lymphoma that seeks to advance predictive analytics for individualized treatment plans for patients. This recent study establishes a foundation for the forthcoming study, according to a news release.

"We are thrilled to share our breakthrough findings with the veterinary community," Sungwon Lim, ImpriMed’s CEO and co-founder, said in the release.

 "Our innovative cell-sizing method is a significant advancement in the fight against feline lymphomas, equipping veterinarians nationwide with enhanced tools for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of this challenging disease.”

ImpriMed unveils groundbreaking cell-sizing method for high-accuracy feline lymphoma characterization in 

. News release. ImpriMed. August 12, 2024. Accessed August 12, 2024. [email]

Kapoor S, Sen S, Tsang J, et al. Prognostic utility of the flow cytometry and clonality analysis results for feline lymphomas. 

McKinnon KM. Flow cytometry: An overview. 

Articles

A new study showed that this cell-sizing method is useful for characterizing feline lymphoma and predicting patient survival time

Flow cytometry and clonality evaluation are effective for characterizing feline lymphoma

The AKC Canine Health Foundation, in collaboration with the American Kennel Club (AKC) have named Colorado State University in Fort Collins and University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet) in Philadelphia as the inaugural winners of the AKC/AKC CHF Canine Sports medicine & Rehabilitation Residency Program Awards. The winning schools both will receive $100,000 annually to support a 3-year residency program.

The program launched in February 2024 to increase the number of specialists trained to meet the needs of athletic and working dogs as well as dogs needing rehabilitation, according to a news release.

 To be selected, approved sports medicine and rehabilitation programs were required to submit proposals that were then reviewed by a panel made up of CHF leadership and subject matter experts.

Colorado State University’s Small Animal Orthopedic Medicine and Mobility Service

: The service offers students a varied caseload, strong mentors, and excellent resource. The clinicians within the program also are consistently publishing research results in peer-reviewed journals to help advance the science of canine rehabilitation medicine.

Penn Vet's Canine Sports and Performance Medicine Service

: This program offers veterinary students the opportunity to work in a research-intensive environment that provides them multiple opportunities, for residents, to perform clinical duties and contribute evidence-based medical recommendations for canine athletes.

"We are thrilled to support 2 top-tier programs dedicated to training the next generation of specialists in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation," Stephanie Montgomery, DVM, PhD, DACVP, CHF chief executive officer of the foundation, said in the release.

 "These programs provide residents with the opportunity to learn from leaders in the field, contribute to groundbreaking research, and utilize state-of-the-art facilities.

The AKC/AKC CHF Canine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency Program Awards received recent support from the Golden Retriever Foundation (GRF) to help the program provide funds to 2 residency programs this year, and plan to continue growing the recognition program.

 "As golden retrievers participate in so many activities, the opportunity to sponsor the AKC/AKC CHF Sports Medicine Residency was met with whole-hearted support by the Golden Retriever Foundation," Chris Miele, GRF president, said in the release.

 "We have made our donation and 3-year commitment from the Rachel Page Elliott Educational Fund, which was created precisely for these opportunities. We feel that with the tremendous rise in interest and participation in performance events, our support will benefit Golden Retrievers and all dogs."

Anyone interested in participating in one of these residency programs can apply though the 

Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program

 in Spring 2025. Residency training begins in July 2025.

First American Kennel Club/AKC Canine Health Foundation Canine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency Program Recipients Announced. News release. AKC Canine Health Foundation. July 23, 2024. Accessed August 12, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-american-kennel-clubakc-canine-health-foundation-canine-sports-medicine--rehabilitation-residency-program-recipients-announced-302204041.html

Sports medicine and rehabilitation programs at the US universities were named the first honorees of the recognition program supported by the American Kennel Club

AKC Canine Health Foundation awards funding for 2 residency programs

On the Rise

Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. To watch the full video and earn 0.5 CE credits, click 

Heartworm disease is an extremely common and often life-threatening parasitic infection that affects about 1 million dogs every year in the US. Despite available preventives, infection rates are increasing within certain parts of the country. Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, of dvm360® Live, spoke with Michael Dryden, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVM,about changing how veterinarians and pet owners view the infection as well as ways to better protect our pets.

What do we know about heart disease and how it has compared to the previous years?

 It is hard to get an accurate number from year to year, but heartworm rates have trended upward. We have data from the Companion Animal Parasite Council, but that is a small fraction of the dogs actually getting tested or data being uploaded. The rough estimate is a little over 1.34% of the dog population. 

What are some factors causing this increase?

 If you look at the American Heartworm Society incidence maps, you see dark red in the lower Mississippi Delta and valley area. Dog relocation across the US and Canada has played a major role in this, especially when thinking about the major hurricane season of 2005. A lot of these dogs come from no-kill shelters where prior ownership was not the best, therefore, they aren’t on preventives. Also, dogs with heartworm won’t always test positive upon arrival if they are within the first 6 months of infection.

Another factor is climate change. Heartworm transmission seasons are longer than they used to be. Warmer and wetter weather, even in northern regions, create an explosion for mosquitoes. There are 25 different species that cause heartworm.

Lastly, preventive adherence has gone down. From the American Heartworm Society’s data, 64% of dogs leave a private practice without prevention. Tie that in with not always getting medicine regularly from pet owners or only being given medication seasonally, and it leaves a gap in care.

What are some recommendations to better educate pet owners?

 When I was in practice, we had a visual with the heart. Now it’s mostly posters on the wall of a veterinary office. While it may be graphic, we need to show pet owners what heartworm disease is doing to dogs. There are a lot of pictures that encapsulate the damage done in the lungs and pulmonary arterial system. A dog will never be what it could have been after heartworm because the damage is permanent and lifelong. If there is a 12-inch worm that is killed with medication, where does it go? It degrades within the dog. Pet owners need to see the consequences up front and realize an ounce of prevention is worth the cure.

We’ve heard a lot of reports about macrocyclic lactones (ML)–resistant isolates of heartworm. What do we currently know about this topic?

 The explosion of ML resistance in the lower Mississippi Delta changed everything. It rejuvenated research in heartworm and made us more aware of the L3 larvae that infect a dog. They have resistance to heartworm preventives, and it varies how much resistance within each product. It appears to be manageable if we do things correctly with preventive utilization.

If you suspect resistance, there are a few things to check: if enough products were bought to treat the dog and if the dog has microfilaria. If the latter is true, you can do a microfilaria suppression test and then treat with a transdermal moxidectin product. To see if microfilaria is reducing, you run a notch test, which involves taking blood, splicing the red blood cells, spinning them down, and seeing the number of microfilaria. You then run this same test again 4 weeks after treatment. If you’ve reduced them by 90%, they are probably not resistant. If not, it is an indicator they might be.

Tackling the increase of heartworm infections.

On the rise

Photo: S Fanti/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock

With the increase in animals entering shelters in the United States, these shelters are filling to capacity.

 In 2023, shelters and rescues received 6.5 million cats and dogs.

 To combat the animal shelter crisis, many shelters have introduced foster care programs. With these programs, animals are placed in the homes of volunteers who offer temporary accommodation. Given the rise in foster care programs, Lauren Powell, PhD, researcher and lecturer of Animal Welfare and Behavior at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, led a study on the motivations of foster caregivers.

The cross-sectional study, titled “Understanding the Motivations of Foster Caregivers at Animal Shelters,” researchers evaluated the motivations and expectations of 131 foster caregivers from 5 US shelters who filled out a pre-foster survey between March 2022 and March 2023. The study found that the primary motivations for fostering were often related to animals or community. This included wanting to offer love to animals or contribute positively to the community. Researchers used ordinal logistic regression models to examine the relationships between caregivers' motivations and factors such as their previous foster experience, history of pet ownership, age, gender, and species of the fostered animals.

The study, sponsored by Purina, revealed that

18- to 29-year-old caregivers were most likely to seek companionship, emotional support, and wish to meet other community members through fostering. This age group often viewed fostering as a step towards adoption.

Those aged 30 to 39 years value the physical activity involved with fostering and has a desire to care for a pet without the long-term commitment of ownership. This age group also sought companionship and emotional support.

Foster caregivers more than 50-years-old were less driven by personal benefits compared to younger groups. This age group primarily focused on the positive impact fostering has on shelter animals.

Male caregivers were less likely to foster for emotional support than females

Non-pet-owners had a higher likelihood of fostering for companionship, emotional support, or to avoid full-time responsibilities of pet ownership

Pet owners might already get the companionship and emotional support they need from their existing pets, so they might not be looking for those benefits when they decide to foster

Dog foster caregivers were more likely to foster for companionship and exercise. In contrast, cat foster caregivers did not have these expectations.

“This study provides a better understanding of the motivations and expectations of foster caregivers and hopes to aid shelters to recruit foster care volunteers more effectively in the future,” wrote the authors of the study.

Bautista-Alejandre A. New report reveals shelter pet adoption data. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/new-report-reveals-shelter-pet-adoption-data

Purina-sponsored research unveils dual benefits of animal foster care programs. News release. August 6, 2024. Accessed August 12, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/purina-sponsored-research-unveils-dual-benefits-of-animal-foster-care-programs-302214893.html

Ackerman R, Watson B, Serpell J, Reinhard CL, Powell L. Understanding the motivations of foster caregivers at animal shelters. 

A study sought to investigate the motivations and expectations of foster caregivers at animal shelters in hopes of helping shelters recruit more caregivers

Research sheds light on motivations of foster caregivers

Photo courtesy of 143 Veterinary Services

Diana Watkins, DVM, owner of 143 Veterinary Services, with the issue of 

magazine that features the practice as an award winner.

143 Veterinary Services in Cohasset, Massachusetts, has been named “Best Veterinarian” in its region. The accolade was voted on by more than 342,000 local patrons and residents as part of the 2024 Best of the South Shore (BOSS) Awards, presented by 

. The award recognizes exceptional service and dedication provided by local businesses and service professionals.

“This is a huge honor,” Diana Watkins, DVM, owner of 143 Veterinary Services, said in a news release.1 “This type of recognition from our clients and our local communities during our first year of business is overwhelming, and we are beyond appreciative of the support.”

, a Massachusetts-based luxury lifestyle magazine, recognized more than 230 winners as part of the BOSS awards, which have become an annual tradition. The winners span several categories, including food and drink, health and beauty, entertainment, kids, shopping, wedding, home and garden, and service professionals. BOSS award winners were announced in the publication’s recent summer issue, after voting closed in March 2024.

143 Veterinary Services opened their doors 1 year earlier, in March 2023, with an official “ribbon chewing” event. Their grand opening saw widespread community support from the South Shore and beyond, with guests including state and local elected officials, police department leadership, local animal shelters, and the Cohasset Working Dog Foundation in attendance, according to the release. Over their first year, the clinic has been involved in the community by supporting local sports teams and theater events, hosting pet adoption events, donating services for in-need animals, hosting teddy bear veterinary clinics at South Shore schools, and participating in a local Fourth of July parade.

The clinic has a number of veterinary services to offer, including annual wellness care, vaccinations, surgery, dental care, behavioral counseling, pain management, pediatrics, geriatrics, hospice care, emergency services, and in-house diagnostics. Their feline-friendly services aim to keep cats as comfortable as possible in exam rooms designed with their needs in mind without the presence of dogs. The practice also has options for alternative appointments, like telemedicine, drop off, and house calls. Additionally, the clinic announced a partnership with Vet Triage Service, available 24/7 for video calls with concerned pet owners.

143 Veterinary Services’ name is derived from Minot Ledge Lighthouse—in Scituate, Massachusetts—which flashes 1-4-3 as a code for “I love you.” With her expertise in surgery and compassionate individual care, Watkins opened the clinic with more than 13 years of experience in veterinary medicine, including 10 years practicing on the South Shore. She is a 2010 graduate of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton, Massachusetts, where she served as president of the student chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Cohasset’s 143 Veterinary Services wins Best Veterinarian of the South Shore. News release. Watkins Strategies. August 8, 2024. [email]

143 Veterinary Services. Veterinary Services. 143 Veterinary Services. Accessed August 9, 2024. 

https://143veterinaryservices.com/cohasset-ma-veterinary-services/

143 Veterinary Services has been recognized with a 2024 Best of the South Shore award

Massachusetts practice receives regional honor as Best Veterinarian 

Good morning and happy Monday dvm360 readers! We are about 2 weeks away from our next Fetch conference in Kansas City, Missouri! Even though the conference is so close, registration is still open. Join the dvm360 team, our amazing faculty, incredible attendees, and exhibitors for a chance to learn, network, and have fun. You do not want to miss the 35th anniversary of Fetch Kansas City so learn more and secure your spot 

Here is what you will be able to find this week on dvm360.com:

FDA announced recently that it has released a set of documents regarding the transition phrase phase after its memorandum of understanding with AAFCO expires on October 1, 2024.

During routine physical exams, the veterinarians at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden noticed that Zero, an 8-year-old Malayan tiger, and Barafu, a 5-year-old-tiger, both presented with dental issues that warranted root canals for both animals.

On this week’s episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, Christopher Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ, joins our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, to discuss recent updates for treating feline infectious peritonitis 

Interviews with our amazing Fetch Kansas City faculty will be rolling out throughout the week. Check back in to see exclusive previews on upcoming lectures from Craig A Clifford DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), Jill Clark, DVM, and more!

Lauren Powell, PhD, a researcher and lecturer of Animal Welfare and Behavior at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, has recently revealed the results of new research providing insights into the motivation of foster caregivers.